New York city is one of those places that always seemed magical to me. I would see it in movies or on T.V. and my heart would tell me that I needed to go see it in person. It was so big and shiny and vibrant and full of allure.

When BlogHer 2010 was announced to be in NYC I could hardly believe it. My favorite conference in my favorite (dream) city. My husband, knowing how huge this was, told me to spend a week there. I flew in the Monday before the conference and my cousin came down from Boston to join me. Between my time spent with her and my BlogHer friends, I got to see much of the city.

My hotel was right smack between Central Park and Times Square. I spent a lot of time wandering through Times Square; it is even more alive than any photos can attest to.

It even has the same vibe during the day. Well, maybe not the same but similar. Billboards and street musicians and people from every walk of life.

My cousin and I made it to the Top of The Rock (Rockefeller Center) and the views of the city were breathtaking.

The Empire State Building was not too shabby, either.

We managed to make it to Grand Central Station one afternoon and it is every bit as dynamic as you think it would be.

It even has pretty lights.

During the five full days I was in New York City I went to Central Park every day, sometimes twice. While the city itself was amazing and ridiculous (and stinky) and fascinating…stepping into Central Park was the equivalent of taking a deep breath. It is green and pretty and quiet and thirty shades of lovely.

There is so much that I did not see: Soho, The Statue of Liberty, ground Zero and so much more. All the more reason the return, I think.